Bracket busters and mid-majors you need to know come March

Most people remember Belmont as the school that nearly upset Duke in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Well, the Bruins have been to seven NCAA Tournaments in the last 12 years and been to either the NCAAs or NIT each of the past seven seasons. This is another great season for Belmont basketball. The Bruins are back in the Ohio Valley race with rival Murray State (whom Belmont beat earlier this year). Belmont is led by the dynamic duo of Amanze Egekeze and Dylan Windler, who both average 16.9 points per game.

Player to know: Dylan Windler (16.9 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.6 apg)

Nevada may be getting the most attention in the Mountain West, but Boise State certainly is no slouch. The Broncos are right in the race and boast a team that could make noise in the NCAA Tournament. Boise has a big-time scorer in Chandler Hutchison, who leads the MWC in scoring and is sixth in rebounding. Folks in Idaho are excited to see if the Broncos can win their first NCAA Tournament game this March and make a run.

Player to know: Chandler Hutchison (20.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.4 apg)

Bucknell is the defending Patriot League champ that sent a scare into West Virginia in last year's NCAA Tournament. Bucknell is known for being a tough out come March, and the Bison bring back that experience along with legit big man Zach Thomas. Thomas averages nearly 22 points per game and put up 21 against North Carolina and 24 against Arkansas. He can bang in the paint as well as step out and pop a few threes on you. That's the kind of guy who can carry you to a win.

Player to Know: Zach Thomas (21.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.3 apg)

The Bulls are one of those selfless teams that just oozes chemistry and plays for each other. They have four guys who average at least 14 points and two assists per game, led by CJ Massinburg. Massinburg is the kind of do-everything star who can carry a bracket buster to an upset or two in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulls get after it; they are aggressive and prey on opponents' mistakes.

Player to know: CJ Massinburg (17.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.3 apg)

Charleston hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 1999, but after appearing in the NIT a year ago, this could be the team that finally breaks that streak. This is a solid defensive team that is holding opponents to around 66 points per game. The Cougars are led by their trio of Joe Chealey, Jarrell Brantley and Grant Riller. Since Brantley returned after missing the first 10 games of the season, he has brought an inside presence that has Charleston the most dangerous team in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Player to know: Joe Chealey (18.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.5 apg)

East Tennessee State has blazed out to a 13-0 Southern Conference record and is currently on a 16-game winning streak. The Buccaneers are no slouches as they put a scare in their trip to Xavier and looked decent against Kentucky. The Bucs are a good defensive team, holding opponents to around 65 points per game. They also are pretty deep as 11 guys average over 10 minutes per game (only two average double figures in scoring).

Player to know: Desonta Bradford (15.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.5 apg)

FGCU is a March Madness staple, it seems. The Eagles advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2013 and played top-seed North Carolina tough in 2016 and No. 3 seed Florida State well last year. They are leading the Atlantic Sun again, though they've had a rocky season. The Eagles are their usual exciting selves but have also lost to some really bad teams. Nonetheless, no power team wants to see them on their line when brackets are announced.

Player to know: Brandon Goodwin (17.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 4.8 apg)

Louisiana-Lafayette is raging again. The Ragin' Cajuns are among the nation's best in assists and one of the best scoring squads in the country. They play an exciting brand of basketball that could knock a more structured team for a loop in the postseason. They've already beaten Iowa this year so they've shown their bite. Four players average double figures, including Bryce Washington (a 6-6 center), who is averaging 10.6 points and 10.7 rebounds.

Player to know: Frank Bartley IV (16.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2 apg)

It has been a long time since Loyola-Chicago won the NCAA Tournament in 1963, but the Ramblers are relevant once again. They are one of the best shooting teams in the country (over 51 percent from the field and 41 percent from three) and have won at Florida and Illinois State. They are leading the strong Missouri Valley Conference right now and house four of the top 10 shooters in the conference. The Ramblers have three players who average 11 points per game with Clayton Custer leading the team with 14.3 points a night.

Player to know: Clayton Custer (14.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4 apg)

They're back! The Blue Raiders haven't shied from anyone this year. They took on Auburn, Miami and USC, and even though they lost those three games, they were in all three up to the very end. They've also beaten Western Kentucky and won at Vanderbilt — plus beaten Florida Gulf Coast twice. The Blue Raiders have won a game in the last two NCAA Tournaments and are looking to break through to the Sweet 16. They are led by senior Nick King, who is near the top of the Conference USA in scoring and rebounding.

Player to know: Nick King (21.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2 apg)

The Grizzlies are leading the Big Sky Conference and trying to get to their first NCAA Tournament since 2013. Guard Ahmaad Rorie, a transfer from Oregon, is the Grizzlies' most reliable player, but they are at their best when fellow guard Michael Oguine gets going like he did when he dumped 39 points on Portland State last month. Montana stood toe-to-toe with Washington in Seattle earlier in the season and could pose a threat in the tournament. 

Player to know: Ahmaad Rorie (17.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.5 apg)

Sure, Nevada won't be called a Cinderella team this year if it makes a run. However, this is a team that could break some brackets if you're not careful. The Wolf Pack are in the top 20 in RPI and have beaten Rhode Island and Boise State this season. They have two studs who are difficult to contain in Caleb Martin and Jordan Caroline. The Wolf Pack can score with anyone and will be a tough out in the tournament.

Player to know: Caleb Martin (19.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.6 apg)

New Mexico State is a tournament pro. The school has been to six of the last eight NCAA Tournaments, including last year. The Aggies hit the boards well (seventh in the country) and are one of the best defensive teams in the land. They win ugly, and it has worked, obviously, with their successes getting to the big dance and their 9-0 WAC start this season. They've also beaten Miami and can rely on the talents of Zach Lofton (20 points per game) and Jemerrio Jones (12.7 rebounds per game).

Player to know: Zach Lofton (20 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.7 apg)

Last year, Northern Kentucky took Kentucky down to the wire before succumbing to the Wildcats in the first round of NKU's very first NCAA Tournament. The Norse are back again, led by forward Drew McDonald. The team moves the ball so well and the has depth and experience that the Norse could end up winning their first NCAA Tournament game in the spring.

Player to know: Drew McDonald (16.9 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.3 apg)

You may be surprised to hear that the Quakers haven't made the NCAA Tournament since 2007, but they are currently tied atop the Ivy League, which has been uncharacteristically down this season. The Quakers have a balanced team led by the duo of Ryan Betley and AJ Brodeur. They are solid defensively and good rebounders, which favors Penn coming out of the Ivy League Tournament.

Player to know: AJ Brodeur (12.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.4 apg)

Rhode Island isn't a surprising team at all — Dan Hurley's team nearly upset Oregon in last year's NCAA Tournament — but its high RPI status and 12-0 league mark this season are. The Rams have lost just three games this season and all to top 50 teams (Virginia, Nevada, Alabama). They have beaten Seton Hall and Providence while dominating a pretty good Atlantic 10. This is a well-coached, experienced team that has eyes on a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Player to know: Jared Terrell (17.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.5 apg)

The MAAC Tournament should be a doozy, but Rider has the chops to come out of the conference. The Broncs can score and get after it on the boards and are trying to reach their first NCAA Tournament since 1994. Rider is balanced — five players average double figures — and Stevie Jordan is one of the top players in the country in assists. If the Broncs can find their way back to the dance after 24 years, they can put the scare in anyone.

Player to know: Dimencio Vaughn (15.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1 apg)

I know what you're thinking: How can I put a team that is sitting 12-13 right now as a mid-major to know come March? Well, let's look at some of those 13 losses. When you take on schools like Virginia, Michigan State, Cincinnati, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Wichita State — all on the road — you are going to suffer some losses. But that experience against those big dogs has helped the Tigers to a 9-1 start in MEAC play. Even if they can't pull an upset, they are so fun to watch, ranking seventh nationally in points per game and giving up a ton as well. They boast 10 players who average at least 10 minutes per game and love to turn up the pace. If they don't win, at least they'll be a treat to watch if they can make their first NCAA Tournament.

Player to know: Dexter McClanahan (15.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.9 apg)

The Summit League has turned into a South Dakota affair. South Dakota and South Dakota State are running this conference and are far ahead of the pack this year. One will surely get the league's lone tournament bid. The Coyotes beat San Dakota State in their first meeting; they'll meet again in their Feb. 22 finale. South Dakota is more of an ensemble than its cross-state rival but has guard Matt Mooney (who dumped 30 on SDSU) as its leader.

Player to know: Matt Mooney (17.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.3 apg)

South Dakota State is legit. The Jackrabbits are a great three-point shooting team (41 percent) and house one of those stud scorers who can will a mid-major to a tournament upset. Mike Daum can do everything. He is seventh nationally in scoring, averages 10 boards a game and has hit 68 threes this season. In the clutch, he can step to the line and hit his free throws as well. SDSU has beaten Buffalo, Ole Miss and Iowa this season (Daum averaged 23 points in those games). No one would want to see San Diego State in its bracket.

Player to know: Mike Daum (23.3 ppg, 10 rpg, 1.4 apg)

The Lumberjacks are best known for being the darlings of the 2016 NCAA Tournament when they upset West Virginia and put a scare in Notre Dame. They can score (over 80 points per game) and lead the Southland Conference in field goal shooting and are second in threes. Top scorer Kevon Harris is hitting 46 percent of his threes and could get on a roll and make the 'Jacks scary again.

Player to know: Kevon Harris (15.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1 apg)

The Gauchos are currently leading a very competitive Big West race where five teams are in good shape to win the regular-season crown. UCSB has beaten the other teams in the conference mix but is prone to losing to some bad teams (Hawai'i, Cal Poly). This team can score and is led by long-ranger gunner Max Heidegger and post presence Leland King II. With two big-time players on a team like this, the Gauchos could pull off an upset in March.  

Player to know: Max Heidegger (20.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.6 apg)

UNC Asheville won't be scared of whomever they could face in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have gone to Clemson, Rhode Island and Saint Mary's (lost them all badly) this season; are two years removed from their last NCAA Tournament appearance; and have made the dance three times in the last seven years. They have a dynamic duo of guards in Ahmad Thomas and Macio Teague, who are both averaging about 16 points per game. The Bulldogs are in a tight race with Winthrop and Radford for the Big South championship. 

Player to know: Ahmad Thomas (15.9 ppg, 6 rpg, 2.8 apg)

Vermont has a sizable lead in the America East, which is huge since the conference tournament is held on campus. The Catamounts have no bad losses this year and had a great showing at Kentucky and at Marquette. They've done all this despite losing star forward Anthony Lamb in late December. If he can return prior to the America East Tournament, this team gets even better. Last year, Vermont hung with Purdue in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before losing by 10 and is most remembered for upsetting Syracuse in the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

Player to know: Trae Bell-Haynes (15.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.1 apg) 

Wagner is one of the top rebounding teams in the nation and, like it did with 16 against Bryant last week, can rain down some threes. No, the Seahawks aren't known as a world beater right now — their only two games of note were blowout losses to Missouri and Seton Hall — but when you can hustle and have a hot night behind the arc, you can pull off a stunner. Blake Francis leads the Seahawks in scoring, but it's JoJo Cooper who is their do-everything player.

Player to know: JoJo Cooper (13.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 6.4 apg)